Support to Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU)
AREU is one of a few national organisations that conduct policy-relevant research. Research reports produced by AREU are effectively responding to policy needs and are widely used by the GoA and international community. AREU builds national research capacity and provides a number of unique services. SDC’s contribution enables AREU to develop institutionally, build local research capacity, conduct reliable research studies and stay impartial in the complex political arena of Afghanistan.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Afghanistan |
Other
Sector not specified
|
01.07.2012
- 31.12.2015 |
CHF 2'038'000
|
- Research Organisation of South East
- The Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU)
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation OTHER MULTISECTOR
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Multisector aid
Cross-cutting topics The project takes account of gender equality as a cross-cutting theme.
The project takes account of democratisation, good governance and human rights as cross-cutting themes.
Type of support Official development assistance (ODA)
Type of collaboration Bilateral cooperation
Finance type Aid grant
Aid Type Project and programme contribution
Tied/untied aid Untied aid
Project number 7F01299
| Background |
The start of 2012 has been marked by an increasing and pervasive sense of uncertainty in Afghanistan. While a roadmap is being laid out for the transfer of security responsibility to the Afghan Security Forces by 2014, the process of “Transition” is raising as many questions as it seeks to answer. Given current levels of uncertainty, the need for these changes to be informed by high-quality, on-the-ground data is greater than ever. A number of organisations have emerged to meet this need, each driven by its own principles and priorities. However, the overall knowledge base is still limited, and there remains a dearth of both reliable and sustainable research capacity. AREU is an Afghanistan-based research organisation that informs and influences national development policies and practices by producing and widely disseminating policy-relevant research reports. |
| Objectives |
To contribute to the national goals of reducing poverty and improving governance by promoting processes of equitable development and institutional reform informed by high quality field research. |
| Target groups |
Policymakers in the GoA, students and faculties, civil society organizations, women’s groups, media, and international and national aid organisations. |
| Medium-term outcomes |
The government of Afghanistan, NGOs, UN, and donors have adopted better evidence-based pro-poor policies and programmes. |
| Results |
Results from previous phases: AREU has emerged as a national research organisation. It conducted 240 policy-relevant research studies that have been widely utilized by the GoA and its international partners. AREU research paper about the Shiite Personal Law has contributed to the amendment of the law. AREU researches on representative governance, justice, women participation and natural resource management have contributed in policy discourses among policy makers. |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
| Credit area |
Development cooperation |
| Project partners |
Contract partner Foreign academic and research organisation |
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 2'038'000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 2'045'349 |
| Project phases |
Phase 5 01.07.2012 - 31.12.2015 (Completed) Phase 4 01.01.2008 - 30.06.2011 (Completed) |